APH Annual Meeting Registration Materials Now Available!

If you are on the APH mailing list, please watch your mail, because you will soon receive a registration packet for the 139th Annual Meeting of Ex Officio Trustees and Special Guests. The packet will include your registration form, a flyer for the Marriot Hotel, a tentative agenda, and other information about this exciting opportunity!

The theme for the meeting, "APH and Ex Officio Trustees: Expanding the Core" will help us celebrate and strengthen the relationship of APH and its Ex Officio Trustees. From the exciting keynote by Dr. Phil Hatlen to the last notes of the last song on the Saturday night dinner cruise and dance, we will educate, enthrall and entertain all who attend!

APH National Prison Braille Focus Group Meets

APH was honored to host a National Prison Braille Program Focus Group in Louisville on July 30 and 31. Eight professionals in the fields of both vision and corrections met with members of the APH Prison Braille Advisory Committee to discuss the unique opportunities and challenges presented by braille production programs located in correctional facilities. Currently, there are over 30 of these programs operating in state and federal prisons across the U.S.

Goals of the focus group were to develop clear guidelines for establishing prison braille programs, determine braille-related training and educational needs of transcribers during their incarceration, and identify the needs of offenders who are qualified braille transcribers as they transition back into society and continue braille transcription. The importance of maintaining a national network of prison braille programs and the role that APH could play in this effort was discussed.

Draft documents developed through the work of this focus group will be circulated throughout the prison braille network for input from both vision and corrections professionals. Documents will then be discussed at the APH Annual Prison Braille Forum held in Louisville on October 10, in conjunction with the APH Annual Meeting (October 11-13).

If you are interested in reviewing these materials or participating in the upcoming Prison Braille Forum, please contact Nancy Lacewell, Director of Government and Community Affairs, in the APH Public Affairs Department (ext. 339, or email nlacewell@aph.org).

The APH Prison Braille Advisory Committee members (Gary Mudd, Bob Brasher, Jane Thompson, Jan Carroll, Rose Zinious, and Becky Snider) would like to thank our focus group participants (pictured here) for sharing their expertise with us at this informative and productive workshop.

APH Braille+ Mobile Manager Training Rescheduled!

The Braille+ webcast, cancelled in July, has been rescheduled for August 21 at 1:00 P.M., EST. The title is "The Braille+ and the Internet." To sign up and receive log-in instructions, contact Maria Delgado at email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Paying Attention: The 2007 Survey of Users of APH Products In Education and Rehabilitation Settings

"One lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention." –Diane Sawyer

We at APH are paying attention, and we know that there is no substitute for the voices of our customers! Your input and ideas are essential to the development and delivery of specially-designed products for learners who are visually impaired. Experience-based feedback helps us pinpoint areas for improvement, and your priorities for future product development assure that our products respond effectively to the learning needs of visually impaired students and clients.

APH actively gathers the voices of our customers in a wide variety of ways and pays attention by incorporating them into our product decisions. Our listening methods include this annual performance survey, which is designed to accomplish several key purposes:

To determine field-based priorities for APH’s development of new products

To measure our performance in order to improve our programs, processes, and products

To gather suggestions for revision of existing APH products

To harvest ideas for new products

To collect APH performance data for the US Department of Education.

We encourage all who have used our products in an education or rehabilitation setting within the last year to take a few minutes to measure our performance and to give us your input through the 2007 Survey of Users of APH Products. This 13-question, online survey will be available on our website at www.aph.org/products/gpra.html from August 6 through September 7, 2007. Your feedback regarding product effectiveness, customer satisfaction, and product priorities based on student needs will help us continue to improve our products and services.

Little Richard, the colorful Rock and Roller, has admitted, "My mother would have company over, and I’d sing so they’d pay attention to me." APH is paying attention – and you don’t even have to sing!

All responses will remain confidential.

For more information, contact: Mary Nelle McLennan at email hidden; JavaScript is required

Seeking Field Test Evaluators

APH is currently seeking field evaluators for Flip-Over Concept Books which are intended for young children (approximately 5 to 9 years of age) as a fun approach to learning basic concepts and practicing early tactile skills. The interactive format of each book contains both tactile and print panels that can be freely turned until the child finds adjacent panels that match each other, continue a line path or pattern, build an image, etc. If you are a teacher or know a parent of a child with visual impairments/blindness who would like to review and evaluate the prototype versions of these books, please contact Karen J. Poppe, Tactile Graphics Project Leader, at 800/223-1839, ext. 322 or email hidden; JavaScript is required for more information about this opportunity. Field test sites will be randomly selected. Thank you.

New Crop of Early Braille Trade Books Soon Available!

On July 14th and 15th a panel of six professionals met with two APH staff members to begin the process of selecting and producing trade books for emergent braille readers. Cay Holbrook (BC), Tanni Anthony (CO), Frances Mary D’Andrea (PA), Dotta Hassman (IA), Anna Swenson (VA), and Jeanie Brasher (KY) met with Eleanor Pester and Jeanette Wicker. The group developed a process for selecting books appropriate for young braille students reading at a first grade level. They then reviewed eighty commercially produced leveled trade books using the process to select books for production. Their work is an outgrowth of a focus group on Early Literacy that was held at APH in the summer of 2004.

APH Goes AHEAD

APH’s Braille+, Book Port, and the Draftsman were big hits at the annual international AHEAD (Association of Higher Education and Disability) conference: "Crowning 30 Years of Commitment… of Pride, Prejudice, and Passion," in Charlotte, NC July 17 – 21. The conference brought together hundreds of professionals in the fields of higher education and disability for a week of information-sharing, networking and theoretical and practical training.

APHers Sandi Baker, Maria Delgado, and Rodger Smith were on hand to demonstrate APH’s newest and most appropriate products for students with visual impairments who are entering into the college experience. From our on-line databases to our latest computer software, conference-goers were enlightened about the needs of and resources for students who are visually impaired.

Families Connect With Families – And APH!

Families from all across the United States and across the world, including the Bahamas and Bogata, Columbia, met in the heartland of America July 13 – 15 for the second "Families Connecting with Families" Conference. The event, held in Omaha, NE, and co-sponsored by NAPVI, the American Foundation for the Blind, and the Seeing Eye, brought together families and their children with visual impairments for educational sessions, inspiring keynotes, outstanding exhibits, sensational fun activities, and an awesome chocolate fountain!

APH was on hand to exhibit a range of products, including the Braille+ Mobile Manager, which drew lots of attention from attendees. Other high interest items included the Draftsman Tactile Drawing Board and Web Chase. Field Services Director Janie Blome presented a session on books for children featuring characters who are blind and visually impaired, including Looking Out For Sarah, available from APH in a print and braille format. Early Childhood Project Leader Burt Boyer, who chaired the first event, served on the planning committee.

The conference will be held again in July of 2009 in the greater Los Angeles area and APH will once again be there to make lasting connections with even more families!

Foundation Fighting Blindness: Visions 2007

The Foundation Fighting Blindness hosted a national conference in Overland Park, KS on July 20 – 22 to share information on the exciting scientific research being funded through the organization and to present coping techniques and strategies for adults and children with visual impairments.

APH staff exhibited products for the three-day event, including crowd pleasers such as the Braille+ Mobile Manager, the Miniguide US, the Draftsman Tactile Drawing Board and the new APH video product, Reclaiming Independence. Many people stopped by the booth to get information about APH, and we were happy to share our catalogs and brochures with these new customers!

Portland State "Teachers-to-Be" Learn About APH

On July 7, 2007, Field Services Director Janie Blome presented a day long session on APH products and services to students of the Portland State University teacher preparation program in Portland, OR. Twenty-five students learned about the Federal Quota program, Ex-Officio Trustees, NIMAC, and the products of APH.

The students asked many thoughtful questions as they learned about products such as Building On Patterns, CVI Perspectives, the Sensory Learning Kit, Setting the Stage and others.

APH would like to welcome those students to the field of blindness and visual impairment, and we wish them well!

Coming Soon! Interactive Tactile Graphics Webcast

APH Tactile Graphics Project Leaders, Fred Otto and Karen Poppe, will be offering an interactive "live" web cast on Tuesday, September 11, from 2:00-3:30 p.m., EST. "Tactile Graphics: Touching on the Basics" will include an overview of tactile graphics in testing, terminology, who uses tactile graphics, skills tactile graphics readers need, and basic methods and guidelines for developing them. The target audience is anyone who needs to understand the basics of tactile graphics, particularly test item developers, test publishers, test-scoring staff, teachers, and assessment personnel. Participants will receive a tactile graphics package to use for their active involvement in the hands-on training. To register, receive handouts, and get instructions on how to logon, send an email to Maria Delgado at email hidden; JavaScript is required Please include your mailing address and preferred reading medium (print or braille).

We had over 100 applicants for the Braille Translation Trainee positions.

APH Presents History at the Kentucky Folklife Festival

Did you ever think of people with vision loss as a unique cultural group? The staff of the APH Callahan Museum has been working for the past year with the Kentucky Folklife Program to do just that. And on September 20-22, staff and volunteers from the Printing House will present that unique history and culture at the annual Kentucky Folklife Festival in Frankfort, Kentucky. Our exhibit tent will explore the work, play, and home lives of blind and low vision "folks" and demonstrate the tools and techniques they use. Modeled on the Smithsonian Institution’s American Folklife Festival, the three-day event introduces audiences of all ages to Kentucky’s diverse folk groups as defined by family, occupation, ethnicity, religion, recreational activity, and geographic region. More than 150 artists and demonstrators will share their piece of the Kentucky story through music, dance, crafts, food, and games. An added highlight of the festival schedule this year is an appearance by three-time IBMA Fiddler of the Year Award winner Michael Cleveland. Mike graduated from the Kentucky School for the Blind in 1999. For more information about the festival, check out the event website at http://folklife.ky.gov or call museum director Mike Hudson at 800/223-1839, ext. 365.

APH Welcomes New Ex Officio Trustees

Gail Gibbard, Oregon Department of Education, replacing Larry Brown.

Melaney Stein, Division of Services for the Blind in North Carolina, replacing Jan Fesperman.

Madeleine L. Burkindine, Kansas State School for the Blind, replacing William Daugherty.

October

October 24-26, 2007
NIP Event: Learning to Use the Sensory Learning Kit held in partnership with Sally Giittinger and the Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired;
Nebraska City, NE

Each State Maps Collection is a set of embossed and printed outline maps for a region of the United States. Use as starting points for lessons on individual states. Add to the images with tracing wheel lines, craft ink, glued-on textures, or whatever materials you regularly use to produce tactile graphics. Add braille labels as needed. Because of their printed outlines, these maps are also useful to low vision readers.

Three printed/embossed copies of each state are provided in a kit, as well as a regional map showing all the states in that collection in relation to each other. Also included is a set of print-only maps that can be copied or used as masters for "swell paper" tactile graphics.

NEW! Reclaiming Independence: Staying in the Driver’s Seat When You No Longer Drive Video

DVD and Resource Guide: 1-30020-DVD — $60.00
VHS: Coming Soon!

Optional Item: Resource Guide, Braille Edition: 5-30020-00 — $69.00

Useful for both individuals and professionals, this video/resource guide will help you successfully use rehabilitation and transportation resources.

Meet Syd, Wilbert, Josephine, Blanche, Gary, and Johnny and share their stories as they make the transition from driver to nondriver. This video contains vital information that will assist in meeting your transportation needs as you evaluate your situation and the resources available to you.

Types of transportation covered include:

Rides with friends and family

Public transportation such as buses and light rail

Taxi cabs

Paratransit services

Air travel

The included Resource Guide contains information on:

Medical issues and visual impairment

Helpful services, instruction, and technology

Types of transportation and strategies that promote success

Resources, helpful agencies, organizations, and companies

The Reclaiming Independence video is available in either DVD or VHS formats. Both editions include a Resource Guide on cassette tape, in large print, and on CD-ROM. The CD-ROM provides computer files of the Resource Guide for embossing braille or reading with a computer or note taker (includes .brf, .html, and .txt files).

The DVD edition features additional material, including a narrated version of the Resource Guide. DVD menus are spoken aloud, making it possible for all viewers to navigate between chapters of the video and Resource Guide.

The guidebook explains the five major components of fitness: cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, and body mass index. The personal guidewire system can be set up in your backyard, a school, or a park. The two pedometers encourage family and peer participation. If running or walking with a human guide, you can use the kit’s adjustable tether, which is long enough to accommodate wheelchair users. The kit includes a convenient shoulder sling pack for storage and travel.

A flexible testing wire allows for testing of 1.5 volt batteries, including AAA, AA, C, and D batteries. The unit also includes two contacts for testing 9 volt batteries.

If the battery being tested is at or near full strength, you will receive three beep signals or vibrations/beeps depending on which model of EZ Test you have. Two signals indicate medium strength, and a single signal indicates a weak battery.

Battery tester unit with attached elastic band to hold testing wire while unit is stored

Two AAA batteries

Instructions in print, braille, and on cassette

One year warranty

NEW! From Russia with Love and Care for Children with Sensory Impairment and Challenging Behaviours

CD-ROM: 1-31002-00 — $50.00

No Quota Funds

From Russia with Love and Care for Children with Sensory Impairment and Challenging Behaviours, a demonstration of an intervention model, is the latest interactive CD-ROM authored by Dr. Jan van Dijk, Dr. Catherine Nelson, and Dr. Ton van der Meer. This CD includes an introductory course in Positive Behavioral Support, which outlines the basic principles involved in assessing challenging behaviors of children with multiple disabilities. It also includes video clips and opportunities for behavioral analysis of 6 children, as well as a listing of articles by Dr van Dijk and others on challenging behaviors of children with deafblindness and other multiple disabilities.

NEW! EZ Track Appointment Calendar 2008: 1-07900-08 — $29.75

2008 Calendar pages only (no binder): 1-07901-08 — $25.75

Provides a systematic and organized way of keeping track of appointments, holidays, and other events. Each large print page (60 point type) holds four days, with enough room to write notes and appointments. The calendar comes with a three-ring binder. Optionally, you can purchase the calendar pages only with no binder.

Investigate and predict the results of putting together and taking apart 2- and 3-dimensional shapes.

Students can practice:

Building 3-D models using hook/loop material cubes in combination with tactile displays

Using Mat Plans to construct and create stacked cube arrangements

Interpreting front-right-top views

Determining volume and surface area

Includes:

StackUps Cubes

Stacked Cube Arrangement Cards

Mat Plan Cards

Mat Plan Worksheets

5 x 5 Grids

Hook/loop material-backed Squares for use with the 5 x 5 grids

Large Print Teacher’s Guidebook

Braille Teacher’s Guidebook

Guidebook CD-ROM with an interactive "StackUps Skills Checklist."

Recommended Ages: 10 years and older.

WARNING: Choking Hazard-Small Parts. Not intended for children ages 5 and under without adult supervision.

NEW! Scattered Crowns: Tactile Attribute Game: 1-08462-00 — $160.00

Scattered Crowns: Tactile Attribute Game is a fun, versatile board game that encourages young children, especially those with visual impairments and blindness, to develop tactile skills. As players search for crowns with specific attributes-band texture (smooth, rough, or striped), number of jewels (1, 2, or 3), and number of points (3, 4, or 5)-they will practice:

Texture/shape/size discrimination

Tactile memory

Systematic searching skills

Spatial concepts (left, right, above, below, row, column, etc.)

Other concepts and skills practiced during game play include counting skills, turn-taking, sorting/organizing, and social interaction skills. The game is conducive to playing classic "Concentration" games using the crown pieces or user-constructed matching game pieces (e.g., basic shapes, braille words/letters, etc.).

Includes:

Visual/tactile game board

Crown game pieces (set of 54)

3-part attribute roller

Single attribute rollers (point, band texture, and jewel)

Masking overlays (set of 30)

Crown collectors (set of 4)

Print/braille game instructions

Hook hook/loop material circles for attaching to the crown pieces and masking overlays.

Box with carrying handle

Recommended Ages: 5 and older

WARNING: Choking Hazard-Small Parts. Not intended for children ages 5 and under without adult supervision.

Address: Earth: Large Format Color Atlas is a revolutionary new atlas that meets 70 specific readability guidelines for users with low vision. APH has partnered with cartography and geography experts from the University of Louisville to research and develop these readability guidelines. Section One is now available, with other sections planned for the future.

Print/Braille Books Transferred to Chrissy’s Collection

The print/braille children’s books formerly in the duPont Series have now been moved to Chrissy’s Collection. All Chrissy’s Collection books are $25.00 each and all are available for purchase with Federal Quota funds.

Other Chrissy’s Collection Print/Braille Books:

Some from the Moon, Some from the Sun
by Margot Zemach: 9-14017-00 — $25.00

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
by Simms Taback: 9-12003-00 — $25.00

The Very Hungry Caterpillar
by Eric Carle: 9-12015-00 — $25.00

Where the Wild Things Are
by Maurice Sendak: 9-16352-00 — $25.00

APH Braille Book Corner

APH offers a number of recreational books in braille (Quota funds can be used). Each of these titles was originally transcribed and produced by APH for the National Library Service which has graciously granted permission for this offering. As usual, these titles have been added to the APH Louis Database where you can find thousands of titles produced in accessible formats.

Note: all books are produced upon receipt of orders, therefore, please allow approximately 8 weeks for delivery.

Tracker
by Gary Paulsen, Braille: T-N1656-30 — $20.50
A thirteen-year-old boy must come to terms with the approaching death of his beloved grandfather, with whom he shares a very special relationship. Grades 5-8. (AR#647, RL 5.3, Pts. 2)

Let the Lion Eat Straw
by Ebele Oseye, Braille: T-N1647-10 — $36.00
A young African American moves to Brooklyn, where she pursues her musical dreams despite a number of hardships. Adult.

Lighthousekeeping
by Jeanette Winterson Braille: T-N1628-50 — $33.50
A young orphan learns the value of stories when she is apprenticed to a blind lighthouse keeper. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. Adult.

*Accelerated Reader number, reading level, and point value. For more information on the Accelerated Reader program, see the January 2006 APH News or www.renlearn.com/ar/